Entertainment | Fall 2013

NMSU goes around the world with Global Connections series

A “garden tour” of Africa kicked off the third year of “Global Connections,” the popular lecture series sponsored by New Mexico State University’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Philip Lewis, professor of creative media who recently spent a month in sub-Saharan Africa filming a documentary, gave the first talkWednesday, Sept. 11, in the Gerald Thomas Hall Auditorium. His talk, “Arising Together,” explored Africa’s changing ideas on women and education, and is based on his documentary that shares the same name.

“I had never been to that part of the world before,” Lewis said. “From the landscape to the architecture, to those social and cultural mores, to the joy of listening to the music and watching the dancing, it comes together in such a way that just takes my breath away and gives me hope for the future.”

‘“La Catrina con Vino y Tapas,’ represents the heart of our community that is rich with history, culture, art and hope for a better tomorrow,” said Cristobal Rodriguez, assistant professor of educational leadership and policy in the Department of Educational Management and Development in the College of Education. “Part of that bright future is through the support we provide our students, which this scholarship fundraiser accomplishes like a filled wine glass of dreams and hope.”

New Mexico State University professor Tim Wright, who studies the genetic relationship of parrots and vocalization, recently appeared on a PBS documentary titled “Parrot Confidential” that aired Wednesday, Nov. 13 on KRWG-TV.

An associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ biology department, Wright served as a consultant and source on the project, filmed in Costa Rica earlier this year. The documentary about captive parrot welfare and wild parrot conservation was made by Emmy award-winning filmmaker Allison Argo. Read more

Pianist Dena Kay Jones performs ‘Imagenes de Espana’ at NMSU

By Isabel A. Rodriguez

Dena Kay Jones, acclaimed specialist in modern Spanish piano music, performed for the first time at New Mexico State University on Thursday, Nov. 14, in a free concert sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences. The concert, dubbed “Imagenes de Espana,” included pictures, text, poetry and accompanying select recordings of Spanish music.

“The idea for this concert spins from the concepts of adding visual accompaniment to the music,” Jones said. “It truly offers a different aesthetic experience to the audience, and explains, through visual media, the influences found within the select pieces on the program. It’s something new and exciting, and the format is bilingual, as a means to attract more audience members.”

Jones has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the U.S., Spain, Mexico, Italy and Canada. Her area of interest is in lesser-known Spanish piano works from 1900 to 1950. Read more

New Mexico State University’s Creative Media Institute has been recognized with three awards from three different video competitions for its work in “Ensuring Child Safety Upon Parental Arrest,” the first video of a series of three in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies.

The awards received are the Telly Awards’ Bronze Medal, the Accolade Award of Merit and the Communicator Award of Distinction.

“The videos are realistic, a true collaboration recognizing the respected but different responsibilities in responding to child abuse and neglect,” said Shelly A. Bucher, senior operations director of the Southwest Institute for Family & Child Advocacy. “The most challenging part of shooting the video was ensuring authenticity and credibility using a combination of professionals in the field, actors and realistic scripts, and portraying the intensity of the situation without being melodramatic. It was rewarding to have this challenge overcome.” Read more

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